Christmas Cheer

For the last three years I have come to expect the same thing out of my holiday season. For the weeks leading up to Christmas I work on finals and getting school wrapped up, while at the same time getting my store ready for the steady rush of holiday shoppers. Apart from missing the rush of angry mobs of people in the mall (hello recession) this season has been much of the same.
This week began with an upward spiral of tests, last minute assignments, and final reviews. I am overwhelmed with school, yet overly grateful for some of the things I've learned this semester. I have a new understanding and respect for this beautiful world God created for us. My Global Environment class has given me a chance to appreciate the glorious various aspects that make up this planet. Creation is really a miracle that should not be overlooked. Although some of the natural disasters we've learned about have scared the crap out of me, I've found myself digging up movies about volcanoes, ice ages, bbc's Planet Earth, even subscribing to National Geographic. If you didn't already think I was a tree hugger... if you've spoken to me lately you'd find me on a whole different level of "Environmentalist."
Work as always gives me a sense of the Holiday Spirit. Being in a mall filled with more decorations and Christmas music than there are customers really makes me feel grounded and at home. Only a Hotdogger would tell you that being at the mall at Christmas is where you are at home. After a long shift with dear friends... also known as employees or co-workers, I'm so filled with the Holiday spirit that all I want to do is drive home and spend time with my mom, dad, brothers, and my puppy. I've found that divorce only effects the Holidays if you let it. It doesn't matter if you have one home, two homes, or ten homes to go to, your family is what you make it. I've made mine the best. I can only thank God that I am so blessed to have these people in my life. In the last 3 Christmases my family has created new traditions, new memories, and even new people that I now consider family members.
I was just sifting through some of the blogs I like to catch up on... I always start with Kate's and move through her family and pretty soon I'm in Angela's, Steph's... and on and on. By the time I'm done I haven't even written in my own and a good hour has passed. I love seeing how happy everyone is and just how much has changed in everyone's lives since I moved over 3 years ago. Sometimes I feel left behind and other times I'm just very happy and grateful for everyone. We all take different paths in life but somehow they stay connected, even across ocean's and continents.
I don't get sentimental often, and especially without being sarcastic right after. So, to all my dear friends who are reading this: Merry Christmas. I love you all. I hope you all have a blessed Holiday and that we all remember what/WHO this season is about. Thank Heavenly Father for those you know, and give even as Christ would.
With Joy,
Nik

Back from Concert #5 in Vegas.

You know you have a problem when you can be nit picky about things in a concert because you've seen the artist enough times to know something is wrong.
This weekend Amanda, Alicia, Paul, his girlfriend Victoria, and I went to see Jason Mraz at the Palms Hotel in Las Vegas. Of course, Jason is amazing, he'd have to try to suck. However, I think the tour is wearing on him because he was chugging stuff for his throat and not belting it like usual. Since I just saw the same show about two weeks ago in Salt Lake I noticed a huge difference in the songs played and the way he sang them. However, that is the extent of complaints about the show because what I love about Jason is that even when he's losing his voice he can still play a killer show. He gives 110% for his fans. It was general admission and I was standing right in front of his mike!
Some of these pictures are from my phone so they arent the best resolution.



I am sad that the next thing I have to look forward to is my work managers meeting in February. But hopefully we can see him again next year when the hype of his popularity comes down and we can go back to those amazing shows like San Fran that have small audiences and he plays his old stuff. Gotta love Jason <3

Peace.

I am on my way!

I am on my way!
1st... I am on my way to figuring out this blogging business. The only reason I even got back into it was because I stopped getting emails from Katy and wanted to read her blog. I figured out how to do the backgrounds and add friends (ok so that is a very Facebooky term). Whatever. I really don't see the need for all these different personal sites. I have a Facebook, Myspace, Blog, 2 emails, Youtube account, BYU page...
Am I forgetting anything? Oh yes... my brain. The only one I know how to use decently is Facebook and recently even that has become difficult.
Moving along. I'm on my way to take 4 tests before Friday. I just wrote 4 spanish papers and did my online physical science vocab test. It is going to be a long, sleep-free week. However, after all the school junk I will be on my way to Vegas to see Jason! Woohoo!
I'm on my way to being a fluent bilingual spanish speaking Panamanian American. That is right. I am busting my buns to learn Spanish! Pienso que necesito ir a dormir.
Estoy en mi manera. Adios.

Catching up on my correspondence with Blogspot.com

Since the last time I wrote was in March I am sure that no one reads this anymore. However, since Sara has been urging me to help connect our high school friends through blogging with Sister Katy Pokey I figured I better write. However, if I'm going to get into this I will need to figure some basic blogging techniques out!
Some help please:
1. How do I connect with other bloggers?
2. How do I make a cute background?
3. How do I send updates?

In other news, school is hard yet rewarding, church is great, work is getting busy with early holiday shoppers, and Obama is now our president. I'm feeling pretty good about life.

Runnin a Marathon with Amanda! Holy s*#!

Ok so I know what you're thinking... not happening. But I am officially running the Park City half marathon with Amanda in August. We have registered, I payed my $30, and now we are in extensive training so that not only can we run 13 miles but also wear bikini's on our cruise.
Yeah... we are awesome.
Ps... I am dead serious about this.

Cantamos, Bailamos, Robamos!

May is the month to look forward to. My one and only true love Jason Mraz finally has a new CD coming out May 20th. It is titled "We sing, We dance, We steal things." This is his first CD since 2005 to come out. He has released live albums and stuff, but nothing new, so to those of us who are obsessed and travel the country to see him live, this is a HUGE DEAL!
Secondly, I am fullfilling a life long dream and going to New York with Alicia in May. I am so excited. We are going to see some shows, shop, and go up to Palmyra for part of the trip. It is going to be amazing.

Thirdly, there are a couple of weddings in May that I am so excited for because I love the couples who are getting married. Chris and Shannon are getting married at the beginning of May and Barrett and Erin are getting married at the end. Yeah for engaged friends. I'm glad for you, and more importantly... glad it's not me.

The best thing about May is that it is the beginning of the break for me. We get out of school April 28th down here at the Y... as in "Y" am I still going to school down here? 2 more months!!!

School's for fools.

I think I'll drop out of school.

This picture has nothing to do with anything other than it makes me laugh. It is of me and my assistant manager Hannah at the "Weinerland" in front of our store in the mall. It's actually an ice cream place, but the people for the movie changed it to Weinerland for the scene they did in the food court. On the other side is a giant hotdog giving a thumbs up. The movie is by MTV and it is called American Mall. It takes place... in the mall. There is singing and dancing and lots of High School Musical quality acting. I am actually in the scene they shoot in the food court helping the main guys at my counter... so that should be interesting and embarrassing to watch later on. It comes out this summer. I won't be offended if you don't go to see it.

Back to the topic at hand. I am dropping out of school. I wish that you could just take the classes you need to for your major and get out. They make it so hard to get out of here when they make you take classes like Biology and Social Science and other crappy generals. I'm close to snapping over the whole thing.

The Return

So my dad asked me to day if I had published a blog lately...
Actually I had forgotten about my blog until he brought it up. So this is the return of the Boosh Blog... coming all the way back from November!
There are a couple of things I would like to talk about:
#1. I am a frickin movie star. Yes... there should be a whole blog on this coming soon. Pictures with the cast and crew of the movie MTV is filming in my mall. If you are a fan of SYTYCD then you'll love the pictures of Hannah and me with Neil Haskell (one of the runners up from last year). Anyways... More details to come.
#2. Katy Pokey is on her mission in Madagascar speaking French and scaring the hell out of all the poor wildlife that she hates. Everyone pray for her and her companion. She is a great example of someone willing to give up their time to serve our Heavenly Father. We love you Katy and keep it up.
#3. Yesterday was Super tuesday. If any of you would like to argue with me for voting for Hilary... BRING IT ON!!! I'm an independant... I dont believe in being catagorized. I believe in some things the republicans say and most of the stuff the democrats say. It's all gray area to me.
#4. If anyone knows anything about biology please let me know because I'll pay you to help me. AH.
#5. For those of you who actually read this... I love you and thanks for taking your time to read the pointless crap that I think up on the spot.

This is me at Jason Mraz in Colorado

This is all I've got until I can think of something good to write about.  I love Jason!

I AM FOR 1

Vote FOR Referendum 1 on Tuesday November 6! It is sad to see so many people misinformed about something so important to our childrens' future. I am not going to list off all of the qualities and pro's for the referendum because it will take all day. All I want to say is I am 100% for it, and if you want to learn more about the TRUTH go to:

http://www.votefor1.com/

Peace

Are you left handed? NO?... Then GET OUT OF MY SEAT!

You know, I think I am a pretty level headed person... well, ok not so level headed, but I'm not out of control. However, there are just some things that drive me crazy!!!
Let me elaborate.
I am left handed. Apart from the injustices that come with being left handed such as pencil smudges on your hand and paper, we die earlier, and also that there are about 10 seats in class for left handed people as opposed to 100 for all the right handed people. It has really given me a bad attitude toward all the righty's in the world. So what would make these injustices even worse? How about when the righty's sit in our spots because they are end seats?! So not only do you have to trample over them to get in, but now you are uncomfortable for the rest of class! Seriously, it is like a healthy person taking the cookie from the autistic girl in class.
I am starting a revolt against the righty's of this world. You have 95% of the class seats. Stay out of ours, its just rude.

Hot Dog on a Stick

As most of you who actually might read this already know, I work at Hot Dog on a Stick. You may be thinking one of the following:
-thats awesome
-thats lame (and humiliating)
-is that the place with the "costumes" and "corndogs"?
-do people actually like that job?
I just have to say I Love My Job! I don't think many people can say that these days. I have never had any other job, and probably never will. Here are some of the great things about being an employee at HDOS...
1. When our founder Dave Barham died he left the company to his employees. This means that we have an employee ownership program set up so that we are ALL owners. All I have to do is work to gain stock in the company.
2. I am a manager, so I have the greatest Regional Manager (boss) ever, that just gave me a raise. She also takes me to lunch just to make sure my life is going well! She worries about my health frequently giving me nutrition drinks and food at her own expense. She is like my mom and I love her.
3. I get to go to California every summer where I get paid travel time and meeting time, just to go to a meeting where we talk about the company with everyone and party.
4. I get to have a spa day every year with all the managers in my region. We get the treatments we want and we get paid to be there...
5. I get a quarterly bonus for meeting my budget and labor requirements. Not gonna say how much it is, but its good.
6. Hot Dog gives tuition reimbursement upon request! Enough said there...
7. I work for a company that takes care of its employees no matter what position they are in! Thanks to Dave we have a rich culture full of people and history that has taught us how a business should really be run. Employees stay for years at a "fast food" job and people outside of Hot Dog don't seem to understand why. This is why!! I am treated better than my mom and she's been at her job for 20 some odd years.
8. I have the best crew ever! It is so fun to go to work EVERY TIME because I am excited to see whoever I'm working with. Its great to go to work and get paid to have fun.
9. I get presents.
10. I meet new people everyday. Whether it is a customer, a mall employee from another store, or a newby that I'm training... people come and go, but we all teach and learn from eachother.

You're probably thinking I am crazy, and or really cheesy. But think about the job you are in and tell me that you can say the same thing about your company or boss.
HDOS 4 Life

Peace!

I am a Shakespeare junky

For those of you who have no interest in the beauty of Shakespearean language you may just want to skip this blog. However, if you feel like opening your mind, take a look at some of my favorite Shakepearean sonnets. I will only put my very favorites because they take up quite a bit of room. Enjoy and let them fill your soul.
This is my favorite:

Let me not the marriage of true minds
Admit impediments. Love is not love
Which alters when it alteration finds;
Or bends with the remover to remove.
O no, it is an ever fixed mark
That looks on tempests and is never shaken;
It is the star to every wandering barque;
Whose worth's unknown although his height be taken.
Love's not time's fool, though rosy lips and cheeks
Within his bending sickle's compass come;
Love alters not with his brief hours and weeks,
But bears it out even to the edge of doom.
If this be error and upon me proved,
I never writ, nor no man ever loved.

Betwixt mine eye and heart a league is took,
And each doth good turns now unto the other.
When that mine eye is famished for a look,
Or heart in love with sighs himself doth smother,
With my love's picture then my eye doth feast,
And to the painted banquet bids my heart.
Another time mine eye is my heart's guest,
And in his thoughts of love doth share a part,
So either by thy picture or my love,
Thyself away art present still with me;
For thou no farther than my thoughts canst move,
And I am still with them, and they with thee;
Or if they sleep, thy picture in my sight,
Awakes my heart to heart's and eye's delight.

Shall I compare thee to a summer's day?
Thou art more lovely and more temperate.
Rough winds do shake the darling buds of May,
And summer's lease hath all too short a date.
Sometime too hot the eye of heaven shines,
And often is his gold complexion dimmed;
And every fair from fair sometimes declines,
By chance, or nature's changing course, untrimmed.
But thy eternal summer shall not fade,
Nor lose possession of that fair thou ow'st,
Nor shall death brag thou wand'rest in his shade,
When in eternal lines to time thou grow'st.
So long as men can breathe or eyes can see,
So long lives this, and this gives life to thee.

You do not have to be an English major or a poet to understand or feel how elegantly Shakespeare describes love.
These are for pure enjoyment. Maybe they will bring a little lift to your day!

Cabin Fever

For those of you who don't know it... the Wight family cabin at Bear Lake is the closest place to heaven on earth as it gets. Every conference weekend since I converted I have come to the cabin to relax and listen to the leaders of the church.
This is the first visit to the cabin when we have had internet access. I am not a fan thus far. Last time I was here I read 3 books. Now we are all acting anti-social.
I thought I would take this time to post some pictures of our cabin fever. Take a look at Angela and I reverting back to, what I like to call, "our newsies days."

Giving in one internet site at a time.

I've officially given into creating a blog. Once again proving that I am becoming an internet junky who spends her days doing homework and sitting at her computer, which inevitably is the only means of communication available to loved ones far away.
The last time I "gave in" to the internet life was in March when I signed up for facebook...

Not my smartest move.

Thanks to my dear friend Beth I now keep in contact with friends from high school and people who have come and gone in my life. I am pretty sure the blog thing is Beth's fault also.

I always said I would never get a blog. "What a hastle and waste of time." Then this semester I changed my major to English and started reading and writing ALOT! I keep a regular journal of my thoughts and daily life and insights, but sometimes it is nice to share.

So here I am. Here's my life. Take a look.